BACKGROUND A number of authors have reported that anaesthetics suppress myogenic motor evoked potentials (MEPs). However, the influence of hypothermia on these effects is unknown. Therefore we investigated the effects of hypothermia on nitrous oxide-induced suppression of myogenic MEPs. METHODS Twenty-two rabbits anaesthetized with ketamine, fentanyl and propofol were randomly allocated to on...

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To evaluate evidence and present an objective view on the effect of nitrous oxide on bowel function. RECENT FINDINGS We determined in a metaanalysis that the chance of having intraoperative bowel distension was increased about two fold in patients receiving nitrous oxide as the anaesthetic carrier gas compared with those receiving nitrogen or oxygen. In a separate logistic r...

Monitoring of nitrous oxide concentrations in operating rooms disclosed some leaks that had hitherto been unrecognized. Because nitrous oxide concentrations reported before 1967 had been obtained for the most part with high flows of the gas and without information concerning room air exchange, measurements were made of nitrous oxide levels during operations with an infra-red analyzer. after cor...

BACKGROUND Suppression of nociceptive signalling in the thalamus is considered to contribute significantly to the anaesthetic state. Assuming additivity of anaesthetic mixtures, our study assessed the effects of corresponding minimum alveolar concentrations (MACs) of isoflurane and isoflurane/nitrous oxide on thalamic nociceptive signalling. METHODS Nociceptive response activity (elicited by ...

In order to get a comprehensive picture of the distribution of nitrous oxide (N2O) in the North Atlantic Ocean, measurements of dissolved nitrous oxide were made during three cruises in the tropical, subtropical and coldtemperate North Atlantic Ocean in October/November 2002, March/April 2004, and May 2002, respectively. To account for the history of atmospheric N2O, we suggest a new depthdepen...

Sir,—In view of the favourable effect of nitrous oxide upon myeloid leukaemia (Eastwood et al., 1963) and lymphoma colony forming cells (Bruce, Lin and Bruce, 1970), we have examined the effect of nitrous oxide on mammary adenocarcinoma in mice. After subcutaneous inoculation with tumour M8013 (mammary adenocarcinoma), one group of C5jBl1() mice was placed in one cage in a flow of nitrous oxide...

A comparison was made of denitrification by Pseudomonas stutzeri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Paracoccus denitrificans. Although all three organisms reduced nitrate to dinitrogen gas, they did so at different rates and accumulated different kinds and amounts of intermediates. Their rates of anaerobic growth on nitrate varied about 1.5-fold; concomitant gas production varied more than 8-fold. Ce...

AIMS To evaluate the efficacy and safety of nitrous oxide for children undergoing painful procedures. METHODS Ninety children requiring repeated painful procedures (lumbar puncture, bone marrow aspirate, venous cannulation, or dressing changes) were given nitrous oxide at a variable concentration of 50-70%. Procedure related distress was evaluated using the Observational Scale of Behavioral D...

BACKGROUND Hemorrhagic shock is associated with changes in vascular responsiveness that may lead to organ dysfunction and, ultimately, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. Volatile anesthetics interfere with vasoresponsiveness, which may contribute to organ hypoperfusion. In this study, the authors examined the influence of adjunct nitrous oxide on the vascular responsiveness after short-term h...

A safe and effective form of pain relief would be an advantage in the prehospital treatment of patients experiencing extreme pain. Although used by many emergency medical services, 50% nitrous oxide (an inhaled analgesic known to have good pain relief properties) is not widely used by volunteer and semiprofessional organisations. This review aimed to determine whether 50% nitrous oxide is safe ...